CLI develops leadership skills in teens, adults

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
May 11, 2006

BOONE - Every summer the Iowa Catholic Conference and the four dioceses in the state sponsor the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) to teach high school students the skills necessary for effective leadership in working with other youth and adults in the parish or school youth ministry setting. Two sessions will be offered in July at the Des Moines Y Camp in Boone.

The diocesan director of youth ministry, Jessica La Fleur, described CLI as a great opportunity for youth.

She pointed out that workshops focus on a variety of skills such as leadership styles, communication, planning, group dynamics and consensus building.

"Through the sessions, they will learn the importance of working together and will discover that effective leaders aren't always extroverts," noted LaFleur, who added that good leaders could come in the form of silent or vocal leaders. Leaders may also come in the form of task-oriented or maintenance-oriented and both styles can have their place in leadership.

While the target participant is a high school-age youth, 15 to 18, adults who work in youth ministry are also welcome to attend CLI.

"Ideally, a parish would send one adult and four youth to CLI," said La Fleur.

Youth from the diocese that have attended CLI in past years have given it positive reviews.

Ashley Evans, a sophomore at St. Mary's High School in Remsen, attended CLI last summer.

"This was probably the best week I've ever had," she described.

Evans said it taught her to grow as a person and a Catholic.

"CLI taught us how to be good communicators and how to communicate our faith among other Catholic youths and adults," she said. "We learned how to be creative with our faith and how to set up Masses that would allow us to properly teach our faith by using the Gospel."

After participating in CLI, Evans applied to and was accepted as a member of the CORE group for the diocese. One of the main functions of this group of teens and adults is to assist with the planning and organizing of the annual Diocesan Youth Rally.

"CLI was a great experience. One I never will forget. My advice to anyone that is thinking about attending CLI is to do it, you will grow as a person and you will find out that there is so much to learn about yourself and our faith," said Evans. "The things I learned while at CLI are things that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, they truly were life lessons."

The diocesan director of youth ministry said that parishes that are looking at starting a youth ministry program or those that want to make their programs stronger are encouraged to take advantage of this leadership-building institute.

La Fleur pointed out that CLI is set up in a way that the participants not only learn the leadership skills in workshops, but also have opportunities to practice them. They work in small groups and share insights on such topics as prayer, decision making, call to ministry, youth ministry and affirmation.

"People sometimes say that youth are the future of the church, but really they are the present, too," stressed La Fleur.

CLI is limited to 72 per session. The first session is July 16 to 21 and the second session is July 23 to 28. While the deadline to register is June 15 for the first session and June 30 for the second, registration is on a first come, first basis so people are encouraged to get in registrations early.

Cost of CLI is $210. This includes room, board, materials and tuition. La Fleur suggested that campers contact their parish or school youth ministry programs to see if any assistance is available.

Registration forms have been sent to parishes, so interested persons may contact their pastor or youth ministers. If you are in need of a registration form or more information about CLI, contact La Fleur at (712) 233-7561.